Maria Nichols has worked in LAUSD for 42 years but has led the principals union for less than two years. She helped negotiate a new contract and stood in solidarity with two other LAUSD unions.

When the heads of three Los Angeles Unified School District unions stood side by side at City Hall to announce their new contracts after nearly going on strike hours earlier, one of them looked out of place.

Max Arias was decked out in a purple letterman’s cardigan emblazoned with “99,” for Service Employees International Union Local 99. United Teachers Los Angeles President Cecily Myart-Cruz wore a tie-dyed T-shirt that read “Solidarity LA.” 

And then there was Maria Nichols, who looked like the school principal she once was. Read More…